Relay socket

ABSTRACT

A socket for a plug-in type of relay, which socket is formed of an insulative material and may be mounted from the front or from the rear side of a relay mounting panel.

United States Patent [191 Simovits, Jr. et a1.

[451 May 21, 1974 1 1 RELAY SOCKET [75] Inventors: Stephen S,Simovits,Jr., Woodridge; Christ ,1. Dumas, Forest View, both of 111.

[73] Assignee: American Plasticraft, Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 240,666

[52] US. Cl 339/128, 174/153 G, 248/27 [51] Int. Cl. 1102b l/02 [58]Field of Search 339/128, 126, 59, 62; 200/168 C; 174/153 G; 292/D1G. 38;248/27;

24/73 SM, 73 SB, 73 PP [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,012,159 12/1961 Drusedow 339/126 RS 2,946,612 7/1960 Ahlgren 292/D1G.38 3,289,145 11/1966 Ruehlemann 174/153 G UX 3,057,001 10/1962 Rapata339/128 X 3,573,716 4/1971 Garuer 339/128 Primary Examiner-Henry C.Sutherland Assistant Examiner-William F. Pate, I11

[5 7] ABSTRACT A socket for a plug-in type of relay, which socket isformed of an insulative material and may be mounted from the front orfrom the rear side of a relay mounting panel.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures RELAY SOCKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONRelay sockets for mounting on electrical panels are known in the art.Such sockets are usually made of an insulating material and arranged tobe mounted either by suitable screws, locking lugs or clamps onto thepanels.

The prior art relay sockets are generally quite satisfactory; however,such prior art relay sockets have the limitation that the socket canonly be mounted from one or the other side of the panel. Hence, forexample, a technician working on one side of a large panel may want tomount a socket on the panel; however, the socket may be mountable onlyfrom the other side of the panel. Hence, the technician may have to moveto the other side of the panel, mount the socket in position, and thenreturn to the first side of the panel to complete his work.

Thus, it is often inconvenient for such prior art sockets to be mountedon their respective panels because of the aforementioned fact that thesocket can be mounted onto the panel only from one side of the panel.

Accordingly, it is a peripheral object of the present invention toprovide a snap socket for a relay which may be mounted on an associatedpanel from either side of the panel.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a socket havinggood dielectric spacing between the conductors.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following more particular description of a preferredembodiment, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a relay socket in accordance with theinvention showing the socket mounted in an associated panel;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the socket of FIG. 1 without the terminal pinsto thus better show the construction of the socket;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the socket, as in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the socket, as in FIG. 2;

FIG. S'is a back view of the socket as in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side view partly in section showing a side view of thesocket of FIG. 1 in its mounted position;

FIG. 7 is a side view partly in section showing the socket of FIG. 1being mounted from the top side of the panel; and,

FIG. 8 is a side view partly in section showing the socket of FIG. 1being mounted from the bottom side of the panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the socket 11 of theinvention is shown mounted in position in an opening 14 in an associatedpanel 12. As indicated in FIG. 1, other openings generally labeled as 14are formed in the panel and are adapted to receive sockets identical tosocket 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, as well as FIG. 1, socket 11 comprises anessentially rectangular body portion 13 formed of an insulativematerial, such as polypropylene.

Pin aperture or receptacles, generally labeled l5 and 15A, are formed toextend through the body portion 13, see FIG. 2, for receiving theassociated terminal pins 17 which are inserted in the apertures 15 and15A and locked in position as is known in the art.

As is known, the top portion of the pins 17 are bifurcated to receivethe male contact pins or terminals of the associated relay, not shown. Asuitable key way 18 is provided to assure that the associated relay isproperly positioned in relay socket 11.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of socket 11 with the terminal pins removed,as in FIG. 2, to more clearly show the construction of the bottom sideof the socket. The bottom surface of socket 11 includes strengtheningand insulating ridges 19 extending transverse to apertures 15A. Therather wide apertures 15 on the top side of socket 11 reduce in size tonarrower apertures 15A on the bottom side of socket 11.

A basic advantage of the relay socket ll of the invention is thestructure which enables the socket to be mounted and positioned fromeither side of an associated panel.

For this purpose, snap-in flexible lugs 21, 22 and 23 are formed on one,say the front side, of the socket ll. Lugs 22 and 23 are formed on thetop surface edge of the socket body 13 and extend downwardly andoutwardly at an acute angle. The lug 21 is formed at the bottom surfaceedge of the socket body 13 and extends upwardly and outwardly.

The lugs 22 and 23 straddle lug 21 and a horizontal spacing 32 is formedbetween the bottom edge of lug 21 and the top edge of lugs 22 and 23,see FIG. 4.

The edges 29, 31 and 37 of the lugs 21, 22 and 23 are cut essentially ona horizontal line (as oriented in FIG. 1), to accomodate and fit snugly,against the top and bottom horizontal surfaces of the panel 12.

The back side of the socket, as shown in FIG. 5, includes mounting orpanel engaging shoulders 41, 45 and 49. The mounting shoulders 41 and 45are formed adjacent the upper surface of socket body 13 and straddle thelower shoulder 49 formed adjacent the bottom surface of the socket, seealso FIG. 6. A horizontal spacing 44 is formed between the bottom edgeof the shoulders 41 and 45 and the top edge of shoulder 49.

The bottom edges 43 and 47 of shoulders 41 and 45 are beveled upwardlyand outwardly; and, the upper edge 51 of shoulder 49 is beveleddownwardly and outwardly to facilitate guiding the socket 11 into itsassociated opening 14 and properly forcing socket 11 into position.

The socket 11 includes a pair of forwardly extending angled flanges orguides 25 and 26 formed on either forward side of the socket 11 bodyportion, see FIGS. 2 and 4. Flanges 25 and 26 are each tapered toward areduced front vertical edge 27 and 30 respectively. Edges 27 and 30provide the abutting edges which force and abut against the edge of theopening 14 to secure the socket in position. Flanges 25 and 26 alsoprotect the lugs 21, 22 and 23 from damage as will be explainedhereinbelow.

As mentioned above, a basic feature of the invention is that socket 11can be pushed into its mounted position as shown in FIG. 6, from eitherthe top of the panel 12 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7, or from thebottom of the panel as indicated by the arrow 62 in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 7, to insert the socket 11 from the top of the panel12, the horizontal spacing or recess 44 between the upper shoulders 41,45 and lower shoulder 49 is inserted in opening 14 agaipst the edge ofpanel 12, and snugged against the edge of the panel opening. The bevelededges 43, 47 and 51 facilitate the correct positioning of the socket 11in its opening 14. Next, the socket 11 is pushed down as indicated bythe arrow 60,

and the oposite edge, the left hand edge as oriented in- FIG. 7, of thepanel 12, engages the lug 21 and pushes or forces lug 21 inwardly.

Lug 21 is pushed inwardly until the edge of panel 12 engages the anglededges of flanges and 26, which thus limits the flexing of the lug 21.

As the socket 11 continues to be pushed downwardly, the upper edge orsurface of lug 21 moves past the bottom surface of panel 12, and theflexed or spring tension of the lug 21 causes the lug 21 to moveoutwardly whereby the top surface of lug 21 engages the bottom surfaceof the panel 12.

The horizontal spacing 32 formed between the upper edge of lug 21 andthe lower edges of lugs 22 and 23 is dimensioned to be slightly lessthan the thickness of the panel 12. Thus, when the socket 11 is inposition, the lugs 22 and 23 flex outwardly, see FIG. 6, and the flatsurfaces 29 and 31 of lugs 22 and 23 engage the upper surface of panel12, and the flat surface 37 of lug 21 engages the lower surface of panel12.

Thus, since lugs 21, 22 and 23 are flexible or resilient, since thehorizontal spacing 32 is made slightly less than the thickness of thepanel 12, a spring like tension will exist to hold the socket 11securelyin po'sition.

FIG. 8 shows the insertion or mounting of. the socket 11 into itsassociated opening from the bottom or reverse side of the panel 12. Inthis case, the upper lugs 22 and 23 are initially flexed inwardly to theangle edges of the flanges 25 and 26. As As the lower surface of lugs 22and 23 moves past the upper surface of panel 12, the lugs 22 and 23 willsnap outwardly and lockthe socket 11 into the position. As mentioned,lugs 21, 22 and 23 are flexible and resilient, and the horizontalspacing 32 between the lugs is smaller than the thickness of panel 12,hence, the lugs will hold the socket 11 securely in position in panel12.

' The relay socket of the invention provides good dielectric spacingbetween the terminal pins. The construction of socket llalso permits thesocket and the associated relay to be correctly centered in theassociated panel opening. The socket dielectric material.

further reduces residual corrosion caused by low or leakage voltage.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

We claim:

1. A panel mounted socket for a plug-in type of relay, said socket beingadapted to be mounted in an opening associated panel for receiving theterminal pins of an associated relay, said socket comprising, incombination, a dielectric body portion having apertures for receivingthe terminal pins of the associated relay, shoulder means on said bodyportion for engaging one edge of the associated panel opening first andsecond flexible lug means for engaging the opposite edge of said panelopening, said first lug means extending outwardly and at a downwardangle from an upper surface of said body portion, said second lug meansoutwardly and at an upper angle from a lower surface of said bodyportion, and said first and second lug means defining a spacingtherebetween, which is less than the thickness of said panel to therebyresiliently engage said panel a horizontal spacing formed between theends of said lug means for accommodating and mounting the socket ontosaid panel, said lug means being flexed inwardly by the panel as saidbody portion is inserted into the associated opening, and a spacingbetween said flange means for accommodating and mounting the socket ontosaid panel whereby the socket can be inserted and mounted in position inits associated opening from either the front or back side of the panel,and the ends of the lug means resiliently engage opposite surfaces ofsaid panel to thereby retain the socket in position.

2. A socket as in claim 1 further including flange means extendingoutwardly from the body portion of said socket and being taperedinwardly from opposing surfaces of said body portion toward a Hatvertical front, said flange limiting the flexing of said lugs by saidpanel to prevent damage to said lugs.

3. A socket as in claim 1 wherein the lug means are straddled forengaging the opposite surfaces of said panel.

I 4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said lug means comprise a partof said bodyportion and extend outwardly at an angle from the top andbottom thereof and are flexed inwardly as a lug is pushed into itsassociated apparatus and, snap outwardly when the edge of the lug meansmove past the adjacent surface of said panel.

1. A panel mounted socket for a plug-in type of relay, said socket beingadapted to be mounted in an opening associated panel for receiving theterminal pins of an associated relay, said socket comprising, incombination, a dielectric body portion having apertures for receivingthe terminal pins of the associated relay, shoulder means on said bodyportion for engaging one edge of the associated panel opening first andsecond flexible lug means for engaging the opposite edge of said panelopening, said first lug means extending outwardly and at a downwardangle from an upper surface of said body portion, said second lug meansoutwardly and at an upper angle from a lower surface of said bodyportion, and said first and second lug means defining a spacingtherebetween, which is less than the thickness of said panel to therebyresiliently engage said panel a horizontal spacing formed between theends of said lug means for accommodating and mounting the socket ontosaid panel, said lug means being flexed inwardly by the panel as saidbody portion is inserted into the associated opening, and a spacingbetween said flange means for accommodating and mounting the socket ontosaid panel whereby the socket can be inserted and mounted in position inits associated opening from either the front or back side of the panel,and the ends of the lug means resiliently engage opposite surfaces ofsaid panel to thereby retain the socket in position.
 2. A socket as inclaim 1 further including flange means extending outwardly from the bodyportion of said socket and being tapered inwardly from opposing surfacesof said body portion toward a flat vertical front, said flange limitingthe flexing of said lugs by said panel to prevent damage to said lugs.3. A socket as in claim 1 wherein the lug means are straddled forengaging the opposite surfaces of said panel.
 4. An apparatus as inclaim 1 wherein said lug means comprise a part of said body portion andextend outwardly at an angle from the top and bottom thereof and areflexed inwardly as a lug is pUshed into its associated apparatus and,snap outwardly when the edge of the lug means move past the adjacentsurface of said panel.